Cowboy Bebop's Iconic Character Designer Reflects on Series Anniversary, Teases Exciting New Project

Studio Bones, known for its iconic anime series from the 2000s such as Fullmetal Alchemist, Eureka Seven, and Soul Eater, continues to captivate audiences with its recent fan favorites including Space Dandy, Bungo Stray Dogs, and My Hero Academia. With the exciting announcement of their latest project, Metallic Rouge, the anticipation grew even stronger as the studio made a remarkable appearance at Anime Expo. The release of the second series trailer during the event sparked immense interest and excitement among fans.

In your words, how does this new series, Metallic Rouge, integrate various design and animation influences from Studio Bones' history?

Masahiko Minami: It's challenging to articulate how this show encapsulates our past work, but during its development, we made sure to incorporate the best elements from various genres such as mecha and action, which have played a significant role in our previous projects. It truly encompasses that essence! Naturally, the influence of co-creator and writer Yutaka Izubuchi, who has previously collaborated closely with bones, is evident in this show, alongside Kawamoto's contribution. Their involvement is undoubtedly significant in a symbolic sense.

GR: What do you hope fans will enjoy about this show? Is there anything specific in terms of the story or character designs that you want to highlight for the fans' delight?

Toshihiro Kawamoto: Personally, I hope fans can perceive from the trailer that the character dynamics in this project are quite unique. The main characters, Rouge and Naomi, have distinct personalities that interact in a fascinating way. One of them has a more subdued energy, while the other is highly energetic. Throughout the development process, we aimed to showcase these contrasting traits and I believe fans will be eagerly anticipating how this dynamic unfolds.

GR: Minami-san, could you please share your perspective on running an anime studio? How do you feel about the studio reaching this significant milestone of 25 years?

MM: *laughs* Despite our long history, a significant portion of my early influence came from Sunrise animation, specifically my work on the Gundam series. Over time, I've had the pleasure of collaborating with the same talented individuals like Kawamoto-san and Osaka-san. Each member of our core group brings their unique perspective on what makes an exceptional anime. When establishing our studio, we amalgamated these diverse ideas and incorporated them into our own series. Naturally, with our new titles, we aimed to maintain the essence of novelty and inspiration for our staff. Our younger team members also contributed their innovative ideas, which were simply inconceivable in the past. Our objective was to create an environment that values fresh and youthful ideas. This approach has undoubtedly played a crucial role in our continuous growth as a studio.

GR: Kawamoto-san, as Cowboy Bebop celebrates its 25th anniversary, I'm curious to know your current thoughts on the character designs. Have your perceptions of them changed over the years, or have you discovered any new aspects that shed a different light on them?

In essence, not much has changed. It's worth noting that directors who are fans of Cowboy Bebop still influence my work, and that's something I'm proud of. Despite my efforts to create character designs that deviate from Cowboy Bebop and have a different aesthetic, its shadow is still present. I consistently receive orders from studios that align closely with Cowboy Bebop. During my collaboration with Izubuchi-san on Metallic Rouge, he expressed his desire for certain elements to be edited in a way that resembles Cowboy Bebop. *laughs* While I acknowledge that Cowboy Bebop was a significant milestone for me and I designed those characters, I value the opinions of others. At this point, it's less about my personal taste and more about others approaching me with the aesthetic they believe suits me best!

Metallic Rouge is set to premiere in 2024, produced by Studio Bones and will be simultaneously streamed on Crunchyroll.